Lady&#39;s slip



April 20, 11954 B. ELLIOTT 2,575,553,

LADYS SLIQP Filed Aug. 15. 1952 IN V EN TOR. ETA/1. .8. ELLIOTT gid-M;

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADYS SLIP Ethel B. Elliott, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 15, 1952, Serial No. 304,583

3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to the field of clothing, and more particularly to a novel and improved ladys slip.

There exists today two general types of ladies slips, namely, the conventional full slip comprising a skirt portion and upper body covering or bodice portion attached thereo, and a half slip, which latter slip consists of solely a skirt portion. The full slip aifords two major advantages over the half slip. Firstly, it offers the wearer more protection respecting the outer garments, and secondly, it may not readily be twisted about the body by virtue of its suspension from shoulder straps, or the like. The half slip, on the other hand, affords an advantage over the full slip in that the half slip does not in any way conceal or soften the more pleasing details of the natural or brassired bust line of the wearer as does the full slip; the front of the bodice portion of a full slip extending over the breast area of a wearer so as to exert a bridging effect between the breasts. This is at present considered to be an important advantage in view of the recent improvements in brassieres, both with regard to the breast-molding qualities, as well as their appearance; certain dress fashions calling for an exposure of the upper decorative part of the brassire.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a novel ladys slip which combines the advantages of a full slip with those of a half slip. More particularly, a slip embodying the present invention will afford adequate protection to a wearers outer garments, remain in its proper location without twisting, and yet will not con- I ceal or soften the lines of the wearer's breasts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ladys slip which will not sag when worn, but instead will remain substantially form fitting to a wearers torso.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ladys slip which is adapted for use by ladies of varying body heights and sizes.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a ladys slip which may be worn with various styles of dresses.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a ladys slip which will not be difficult to manufacture nor require special materials in its construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective three-quarter 2 front view of a ladys slip embodying the present invention as it appears when being worn;

Fig. 2 is a general perspective three-quarter rear vew of said ladys slip;

Fig. 3 is a general perspective three-quarter front view of an alternate form of ladys slip embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a general perspective three-quarter front view of another alternate form of ladys slip embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a ladys slip embodying the present invention will broadly comprise a skirt portion I0 and an upper body-covering portion l2 secured at its lower edge to the upper edge of the skirt portion, which upper body portioniwill be supported from the shoulders I of a wearer [5 by means of suitable shoulder straps It, or the like. The front of the upper body-covering portion I2 is seen to 'be'formed with an opening I8 in the breast area of sufficient width and depth that the major portionof the breasts l9 of the wearer l5 will'n'ot be covered by the upper bodycovering portion. With this arrangement, it will be apparent that a ladys slip embodying the present invention will not in any way conceal or soften the more pleasing details of the wearers bust line.-

More particularly,'the'skirt portion In and the upper body-covering portion 12 will preferably be interconnected by a waistband 20, which waistband will be' formed of a material having sufficient circumferential resilience to cause it to snugly engagethe waist'of the wearer I5. To this end, the waistband may be formed ofv the same material from which the skirt and upper body-covering portions are made, but will comprise a double layer of such material cut on the bias in a conventional fashion. Alternatively, elastic material (not shown) may be disposed along the circumference of the waistband in place of such bias-cut material.

In the form of slip shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be'noted that elastic'material 22 is shown as forming the outline of the opening IS. The present invention contemplates that such elastic material 22 will cooperate with the waistband 2:! when the slip is being worn to make the upper body-covering portion I 2 of substantially form fitting with respect to the upper torso of the-wearer Hi. 'This arrangement is particularly to be desired where the slip is to be worn underneath a dress of the form fitting type. The shoulder straps [6 are seen to interconnect the upper ends of the openingv [8 with the rear of the. upper body-covering portion I2. Preferably each shoulder strap will include a buckle 24 whereby the effective length of these straps may be adjusted. It has also been found desirable to provide the slip with short strap means 26 which connect the upper edge of the upper body-covering portion 12 outwardly of the opening l8 with each of the shoulder straps H3 at a point thereon below the buckle 24. With particular reference to Fig. 1, the slip may also be provided with a horizontal elastic cross-piece 28 interconnecting the sides of the opening IB above the lower extremity thereof but below the breast area of the slip. Where this cross-piece is utilized, the portion 29 of the waistband between the cross-piece and the lower extremity of the opening l8 may be elimi nated. The provision of this cross-piece, has been found to improve the form fitting qualities of the upper body-covering portion 12.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown an alternate form of ladys slip embodying the present invention, which form has been found to be especially well adapted; for use with women having somewhat larger than normal figures.

'This alternate form of ladys slip is in general similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the exception being the'termination of the lower extremity of the opening l8 at a point higher than was the case in the aforedescribed slip. Additionally,

the elastic cross-piece 28 shown in Fig. 1 is not utilized. The remaining elements of this alternate form of slip are seen to be similar to the parts of the aforedescribed slip, with the further exception that the waistband is not cut away in the front.

Referring now to Fig; 4, there is shown another alternate form of ladys slip embodying the present invention; This form of slip is especially suited for use with evening wear and with summer dresses. With this form of slip, the opening I8 is shown as being outlined by a resilient material other than elastic, which material 30 may conveniently consist of the same material from which the skirt and upper body-covering portions are formed but utilized in a double layer 'cut on the bias.

The supporting means for the upper bodycovering portion I2" of this form ofslip may be a shoulder strap 32 of the halter type, which shoulder strap will preferably be formed of an elastic material. This shoulder strap 32 is seen to interconnect the upper edges of the opening 18 and is adapted at its intermediate portion to encircle a wearers neck. The waistband 20" will preferably be formed of the same material from which the skirt and upper body-covering portion is formed but will consist of a double layer of such material cut on the bias. There is. also shown elastic strap means 34 connecting the upper edge of the upperbody-covering portion I2" outwardly of opening $8 with the sides of the shoulder strap 32. With this arrangement, it is contemplated that the shoulder strap 32 and strap means 34 will cooperate with the waistband 20" to make the upper body-covering portion substantially forrn fitting to the upper torso-of a wearer.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a ladys slip constructed in accordance with the present invention will provide a wearer with the advantages of both a full and a half slip without the disadvantages normally attributed to such slip. It will also be apparent that various modifications and changes: may be made with regard to the ladies slips hereinbefore set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ladys slip, comprising: a skirt portion; a waistband at the upper edge of said skirt portion formed of a material having suflicient circumferential resilience to cause said band to snugly engage the waist of a wearer; an upper body-covering portion secured at its lower edge to said waistband, the front of said upper bodycovering portion being formed with an opening in the breast area substantially across the width of said portion and from a point adjacent said Waistband upwardly in order that the major portion of a wearers breasts will not be covered by said upper body-covering portion; elastic material secured to the front of said upper bodycovering portion so as to form the outline of said opening; a horizontal elastic crosspiece interconnesting the sides of said opening adjacent the upper edge of said waistband, said waistband being cut away therebelow to define a separate frontal opening, said elastic material and said crosspiece cooperating with said waistband when said slip is being worn to make said upper bodycovering portion substantially form fitting to the upper torso of a wearer; and, shoulder straps connecting the front and rear of said body-covering portion.

2. A ladys slip, comprising: a skirt portion; a waistband at the upper edge of said skirt portion formed of a material having sufficient circumferential resilience to cause said band to snugly engage the Waist of a wearer; an upper body-covering portion secured at its lower edge to said waistband'the front of said upper bodycovering portion being formed with an opening in the breast area substantially across the width of said portion and from a point adjacent said waistband upwardly in order that the major portion of a wearers breasts will not be covered by said upper body-covering portion; elastic material secured to the front of said upper bodycovering portion so as to form the outline of said opening, said elastic material and said waistband cooperating when said slip is worn to make said upper body-covering portion substantially form fitting to the upper torso of a wearer; and, shoulder straps connecting the front and rear of said upper body-covering portion.

3. A ladys slip, comprising: a skirt portion; a waistband at the upper edge of said kirt portion formed of a material having sufficient circumferential resilience to cause said band to snugly engage the waist of a wearer; an upper body-covering. portion secured at its lower edge to said waistband, the front of said upper bodycovering portion being formed with an opening in the breast area substantially acros the width of said portion and from a point adjacent said waistband upwardly in order that the major portion of a wearers breasts will not be covered by said upper body-covering portion; elastic material' secured to the front of said upper bodycovering portion so as to form the outline of said opening; a horizontal elastic crosspiece interconnecting the sides of said opening adjacent the upper edge of said waistband, said waistband being cut away therebelow to define a separate frontal opening, said elastic material and said crosspiece cooperating with said Waistband when said slip is being worn to make said upper bodycovering portion substantially form fitting to the upper torso of a wearer; shoulder straps inter- 5 connecting the upper inner edges of the upper body-covering portion; a buckle carried by each of said shoulder straps whereby the efiective length thereof may be adjusted; and, strap means connecting the upper edge of said upper bodycovering portion outwardly of said opening with each of said shoulder straps at a point thereon below said buckle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Number Name Date Hunley Sept. 17, 1935 Christiansen Apr. 10, 1951 Cousins Feb. 5, 1952 Kramer et a1 Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Denmark Apr. 29, 1935 

